THE HERON 
be said, and had treated the subject from 
every point of view, without hesitating for a 
word. Cornelius Geoghegan was very angry 
as he walked away, but until he was out of 
sight he heard the reproachful voice behind 
him : " and, bedam, the whole counthry 
would cry shame on him for cuttin' the auld 
tree his honour Misther Thomas had kept so 
careful." 
"A most troublesome fellow/' said Mr. Geo- 
ghegan, escaping down a side path. 
The woodmen went to the heronry the next 
day, and Andy went there also. The old 
herons flew up at their approach, and circled 
screaming down the glen, while the young 
ones croaked foolishly. It took two hours' 
continuous sawing to divide the great trunk. 
Andy, with some others, stood by, and for all 
they were angry at the felling of the tree, 
from first to last they gave good advice on 
the best method of doing so. Late in the 
afternoon, when the ropes were fast to the 
branches the master came by, and they scowled 
at him. The old tree shivered under the 
ringing blows of mallet upon wedge : it 
tottered, and then the men leaped aside as 
gathering speed it fell headlong with a roar. 
When a man fells a tree, there is always a 
pause after the final crash. Men do not joke 
213 
